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archives push me to post webmail :: xenii mail the hive :: for trading and raiding polymorph :: a cosmographia universalis chrisnelson.ca :: chiefwagonburner has a blog fortune cookie distro :: x's distro
Hi, I'm Mytila. First time poster, long time reader. I figured it was time for me to join up and start participating in the forum. I'm always reading posts then commenting on them in my head. I feel like I know most of you guys pretty well. I started feeling like I was eavesdropping in on conversations, my stalker instincts were kicking in, I guess. So, here I am. Jumping on the train so to speak. Ok, that is all for now. A good day to all.
mytila Oh, X. I'm sorry. That's so terrible. I wanted to scream at everything reading that post.
jimmy I forgot who was it that said it, but the question was, if america's schools were better funded, would there even be an army? Granted there are thousands of other factors that go in to producing our army, but, for example, my friend Cha-ling's boyfriend had to join the army so he could pay for college. He's one of the youngest out of a family of 10 kids. He's supposed to come back from training this summer, but he's not completely sure yet. Cha-ling always gets these phone calls from him lasting at most the span of 3 minutes, with lots of yelling and noise in the background and him saying "Hi, it's me Felice...just calling you......" I always imagine him hunched over in a corner trying to make a phone call and his fellow armymen in the background seeing who can fit the most grapes in their mouth. He's in Atlanta, GA right now. My friend Sam knew a young Lebanese man named Bilal. Actually more than "knew". They met traveling when Sam was traveling around in Europe. Bilal had just graduated from University and was hired by some business. A few weeks ago, on a business trip in an area of high American soldier occupation Bilal was shot. Bilal's cousin told Sam that it was in a chaotic marketplace where a group of young boys started taunting the American soldiers and throwing things, so the soldiers became scared and fired shots. Bilal died in a hospital, not because his wound was untreatable (it was in his shoulder), but because he was not treated fast enough; the hospital was under American occupation. Sam tells me in one of his last conversations with Bilal, Bilal asked him "How can you say you love me when your people are killing mine?" Bilal also told Sam once that he was "not afraid to die"...Sam tells me Bilal's stories of being young and hearing gunshots everywhere, of growing up in such chaotic conditions. I don't know what will happen, now that Bilal is gone in Sam's life, but his death seems like an ending and an awakening all at once.
x OMG, I'm becoming a radical! Ever since seeing that documentary about the Weathermen. Here's part of a recent post at my Yahoo group, "The Mental Hygiene League." ================================================ "And yes, I understand and have experienced the brain-sucked out syndrone (BSOS). It is a fast advancing syndrone created by our society's current management tacticians. They figure if you are brain-dead when you get home, you won't solve any other troubles, until next they need you to solve their problems. This way they maximize their usage of your entire mental potential, while also nuetering you to pose any competition/opposition to their own machinations. Kinda scarey, but this is a realistic model of modern management. The only way to dodge this management tactic, is quit working and start making bombs! Oops, I didn't just say that. (But if I had, I ask, what other choice do we have of ever being free?)" ================================================ Okay so maybe you could invent a better management model. But hey, in these times, Nazi tactics are more often endorsed than humanitarian ideals. Doesn't make them right. It doesn't make them right! And Jeff, thanks for the "I won't argue with you" tactic. That is my modus operandi, most of the time. The co-worker who was found unacceptable, was a long standing computer operator, one who is well know for their caution and attention to detail. To make a mistake with those credentials only spoke to their humanity, and that all humans make mistakes. Yes, it was a learning opportunity. But that learning may not occur under such severe chastisement. Embarrassment, humiliation, other problems flare, and thus a good worker is turned into a lesser, humiliated worker, for worrying over nothing, over the insult! The manager in this situation was way out of line! He should be admonished for picking on a randomn situation, which he had no information about. The fact is, he has no idea what we do anyway. So he was embarassed by a production failure, which he knew nothing about. Us computer operators need to communicate these failures to him, the impact, and future likiability of other failures. But he needs to suit his comments to the situation. Anyway, we're working on a model of the potential for operator failures compared to the successes. We'll probably be looking at a one in a thousand or so operator failures, compared to actual potential failures. Thanks for all of the feedback. You guys are great! Peace Yo! Awa \A/ (PS, sorry Jimmy, I just got us on John Ashcroft's list again, didn't I?)
Aw C'mon Jimmy, you'll never be CEO with that management attitude. It's simply unacceptable. Training 18 year-olds to be killers, then sending them to a foreign country to be prison guards, that's unacceptable. See? You can use the word just about any old way. Awwa, I wonder what would have happened if your friend just said, "Yes, I agree, it is unacceptable". Use the word, reveal its lack of power. It's the same vein as saying "I'm not going to argue with you", when someone wants to irrationally argue with you. There isn't much one can do about that. I hear it is an infuriating response I use frequently, but then I have avoidant issues. I wish I could start a sentence with "At my mortuary, we used to..." More later on the prom and such as slack time allows. jeffron x (for once not masquerading as a public official)
jeffron x My mortuary used to fire people who had been there for 1-15 years for making one crucial mistake. A crucial mistake was an embarrassing mistake. They would then replace the person with an entirely new person, who had to be trained for the job, and was essentially a beginner. In this manner, they assured themselves of lots of mistakes and lots of firings. Firing people is not only bad for morale, it is expensive and costs lots of paperwork. When someone makes an inevitable mistake on the job and is made aware of it, they become worth more then they were before they made the mistake.
jimmy A co-worker of mine was told that the mistake they may or may not have made, was "unacceptable." What does that mean? Are they fired? Can they expect a lower raise, or no chance for advancement, even if it just means getting a full time position? How can you say that to someone, "that is unacceptable" without consequence? What is unacceptable, when humans will make mistakes? Are all mistakes unacceptable? Perhaps those who judge so harshly, are unacceptable! Perhaps it is they who are not able to appreciate the good they receive, and yet do not deserve. "Let them eat cake" said Marie Antoinette, when told the peasants had no bread. She had no concept of being without bread and cake. Her head rolled like the rest of the ruling class of France during the French Revolution. She was not guilty of abuse, so much as a silent partner to it. Much of our modern society is partner to such unacceptable abuses. What would you do, if suddenly you found that you were "unacceptable?" Peace! Awwa \A/
Aw It is funny how people get hung up on the milestone dates of high school, a little ways down the road. I think that part of it is wanting your children to have a better time than you did, so they won't be "cheated" out of what it means to be a middle-class American high school student. The prom was probably one of the most miserable days of my life, and that had little to do with the event itself, or even with my date. (I had to import him from another school, and I was very casual about him. He showed up wearing a gold bow tie and belt-thingy, whatever those are called; I haven't seen him since. Though last I heard he was on the interesting side of the law.) I did get some funny stories about it for later life. (have I told you guys about this before?...) They had it in the gym. Isn't it romantic?! Trying to make us forget about the sweat-sock smell coming up from the old locker rooms, the prom committee curtained the dance floor in black plastic. It was exactly like going to the prom in the bottom of a Glad bag. They had these nasty gray cardboard pillars set up around the room, to maybe distract us from the garbage ambiance, and one of them fell over & narrowly missed crushing the cake. And then there was the line dancing...... What few fond memories I have of the prom experience are all about dress shopping. (ah, consumerism--) I actually wore my prom dress a few times in college, for the rare formal dances at a school where most people were all pleased with themselves if their polarfleece was coordinated. It is a classy little number, and I wish it still fit, but even my shoe size is bigger than it was in high school. Hehe. xw, if I were you, I'd dress to the nines and go out with friends, somewhere other than the prom. Or hell, go without a date, go fabulous, & give the truly unfortunate guys at your school their final glimpse of what they're missing. Yeah, that's what I'd do. :)
coop The prom seems to be quite the icon of Americana. Some schools in Canada don't even have one (or anything close to a prom). Certainly not my school - they didn't even allow dances or short skirts. But they were weird to start with... Seems that a lot of things about high school and that age are really hyped up in the US. Too many people living vicariously? Or is it a big fish in a little social pond syndrome? Ahh, back in my glory days.
chiefwagonburner Jimmy, think retro, black exploitation films... do you still have the blue, bell bottom suit? We could re-open a whole new genre (albeit one which might best not be re-opened). Better yet, does the guy with the British spy suit, still have that suit? Okay, I'm kinda ribbing you! I had a baby blue suit in the seventies too. I'd never fit back into it. But me and the suit did hit the disco floor a few times, as a Travolta Jr/wannabe! Those disco years really hit me hard in the dating envelope. Now, as an older, wiser man, I hardly date at all, HA! Ah well, old habits are hard to break! I did almost pickup a nice woman in a bar tonight. We talked for a long time, a lot of the conversation was about art and social problems. I showed her a few of my ArteMorphs, she spoke of her writings. It was almost as good as almost dating back in my twenties. You take pleasure in people. Then when that something else happens, ahhh, you take that too. Peace, Awwa \A/
Aw well, I went to prom but it just wasn't quite the big deal that everyone made it out to be. I felt sort of disappointed that it wasn't more monumental or fun or something. I mean it was alright, but it's kind of like New Years - it's hard to live up to the hype... So I wouldn't feel too bad if I were you and didn't end up going. I barely remember my prom (and that's not because I was all boozed up for it - I don't think I was) - I think those memories have been crowded out by a lot more exciting things that have happened to me in the subsequent years.
Miss Speck and the Giant Librarians Ah, Awwa. Sorry it took me so long to read this post! I will nab these images and put them in polymorph. And Awwa, tsk tsk! "Hey X, know any rejects or social morons? They might say yes!" Haha. XW, I do think Awwa's stag(ette) advice is good. It doesn't seem to matter how traditional things are these days. But I have to admit I have no understanding of how important this event is to you since I rarely went to dances when I was in high school. I wish you the best! Personally I volunteer Jeffron, since he's in the area and he's the rockinest dude on the East side. For awhile I wished I had gone, but then that feeling sort of faded. I do get tiny pangs of regret occasionally when someone is showing me their photo album. Anyhow. It might be sweet if you take Awwa's advice. I was that guy too. I would have just crumpled up and died if someone asked me out. In a good way. I was also strangely popular, but it wasn't my fault. I didn't go to my own prom, but my friend and her good friend invited my friend and I to go when I was about 20 or so. So I got a suit that made me feel like a real moron. It was baby blue and was seventies. I wore a pink shirt with frills. Basically, I looked like a pimp. I had big Sideshow Bob hair at the time. My friend though, wore a shiny silver sharkskin suit and looked like a British spy. We just didn't match as the male portion of a double dating circle. That girl called me after that. I think she developed a crush right then and there (it was the first time we'd met). But, see, outside of that baby blue suit I had no super powers. I forgot Jeffron's superhero classification scheme was, ior I'd use it. I was sooooo embarrassed in what I was wearing. I mean...they were bellbottoms. But when I got there, we were the hit, I guess, because that kind of thing was "in". I just didn't know how to appreciate it. I kinda felt like I was wearing my dad's reject suit. Plus, you know. Pink frills. Throw your hands up in the air and go "hoo hoo!"
jimmy Sorry to hear that your high school (like most others) is so full of boneheads, X! If I were able, I'd go with you, limo and all! But a 47/8 year old accompanying a teenager might be questionable, Heh! As for my own prom, my family was in the lower middle class, and the prom represented an unnecessary exspence. Had I a girlfriend, the exspence might have seemd a little more worthwhile. As it was, I rarely dated in high school. I was one of those chubby nerds, who blushed when girls came near. Oh I liked them alright, just hard for me to get past those first few mumbled words. I was smart about some things, but about women I was a total and complete idiot. Hhmmmm, maybe there's an idiot like that, you could ask who would go with you X. Any guys hanging out with you and your friends, who duck their eyes when you look at them? If you ask them, they might have the courage to go. It could be worth a shot. Or you could go stag(ette), or with some other friends who don't have dates. At least you would be able to go. Alas, having a dependable dance partner is important though. I know it's hard, dating as a teenager. At least it was for me. I believe it is because as teenagers, we take it so seriously, and yet much of that early dating doesn't lead to anything, it's like practice dating. One other option would be to boycott the whole thing. Get friends together to do something completely different, go to a museum, a movie or a fancy restaurant. Have your own "prom" celebration. Being the "hot desirable girl" is not necessarily a good thing. You're too smart for that! I hope you have fun whatever happens X. A few more images for Polymorph, Jimmy. I can't figure a good way to get these to you. My email client poses a limit to how large and how many items can be attached. I can ftp these directly to your server through a post such as this, which is what I've done. If this doesn't work, maybe we can figure another, better way. When uploading the items to the post, it gives you the option of posting the items on the post page, as an inline image or as a link. I'm just linking these so that people can view them if they like, but it won't slow the page loading. 0glowmandala.gif 1a0028.jpg 1a0072.jpg 16a0023.jpg 16006b01.jpg 1053818832a0082.jpg 1053818832a0099.jpg a-512658031a0001.jpg Driftwood02a0001.bmp glowwave8.gif PENT_001 00107a0001.gif Proms, Polymorphs, and Peace Yo! Awwa \A/
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